Vanished

A Perfect Day

Chapter 1: A Perfect Day

The soft hum of the city buzzed outside Skylar’s bedroom window, mixing with the faint chirping of birds as morning crept into the room. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting warm rays across the bed, slowly coaxing her awake. She stirred, stretching slightly under the blanket, letting the comfort of her cozy cocoon linger before her eyes blinked open. The world felt peaceful, and Skylar basked in the quiet stillness, her heart swelling with contentment.

She glanced to her side, and there was Jaden, still asleep, looking serene in the early morning light.His dark hair lay tousled on the pillow, his strong,handsome face soft and relaxed. She watched him for a moment, her mind floating with thoughts of their future together. It had been almost four years since they’d started dating, and every day since had only made her love him more. He was everything she’d ever wanted: kind, thoughtful, supportive,and deeply committed to her.

Skylar eased herself out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him. She crossed the room to the kitchen, savoring the cool feel of the wooden floor under her feet. Their apartment was a reflection of the life they’d built together. Clean and minimalistic, it was decorated with pieces that told their story—a blend of framed travel photos, quirky knickknacks from trips, and mementos that brought their memories to life.

Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she breathed in the rich aroma and felt a familiar surge of excitement. The upcoming months were filled with wedding plans, but the weight of all the decisions and tasks was softened by the joy of knowing she was marrying her best friend. Every step, every detail—from choosing the flowers to planning the menu—felt like an affirmation of the life they were building together.

Skylar’s gaze drifted to the bulletin board they’d hung near the refrigerator. It was a cluttered collage of wedding plans, reminders, save-the-date cards, and love notes they’d left for each other. Her eyes landed on a particular note Jaden had left just a few days earlier. It was scribbled in his familiar, slightly messy handwriting: *“Only a few more weeks until forever.”*

Reading it made her heart swell. She loved how involved Jaden was in planning their wedding. He’d enthusiastically helped pick out invitations, debated seating arrangements, and even weighed in on the font style they’d use. He never left her feeling alone in the process; it was their wedding, their day, and he wanted it to be as perfect as she did.

“Morning,” Jaden’s groggy voice came from behind her, pulling her from her thoughts. She turned to see him standing in the doorway, still looking half-asleep but with a sleepy smile on his face.

“Good morning,” she replied, beaming back at him as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re up early for a Saturday.”

He chuckled, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I figured if I didn’t get up, you’d have all the coffee to yourself.”

She laughed, playfully rolling her eyes, and handed him a mug. “I’d never do such a thing,” she teased.

Jaden took a sip, closing his eyes as he savored the warmth. “Mmm, perfect,” he murmured. They stood together in comfortable silence, enjoying the calm of the morning. Skylar leaned into his embrace, soaking up the small, simple moment.

After a while, Jaden pulled back, a playful glint in his eye. “How about we take the day off from wedding planning and just do something spontaneous?”

Skylar raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Spontaneous, huh? Any ideas?”

“I thought we could check out that new art exhibit downtown, grab some lunch, maybe even splurge on dessert at that little café you love. No plans, no stress. Just us,” he suggested.